When I first visited the College Conservatory of Music I remember being blown away by the incredible facilities and state-of-the-art classrooms, studios, and performance spaces. From huge theaters to recording studios and an 8,500-square-foot scene shop – the CCM village has it all. I love walking through the halls and hearing the sounds of opera singers, cellists, and composers all hard at work.

The village is made up of four buildings: Corbett Center for Performing Arts, Dieterle Vocal Arts Centre, Mary Emery Hall and Memorial Hall. As a Musical Theatre major, I spend most of my time in the Corbett Center for Performing Arts, which houses dance studios, the scene and costume shop, and the theaters.

My favorite theatre is Corbett Auditorium, which is where all Musical Theatre main stage shows are performed. The space was recently renovated for $15 million, which included new seating, rigging technology, and lighting. The orchestra pit uses a hydraulic lift mechanism that allows the orchestra to move up to the stage level.

One of my favorite spaces in CCM is the large rehearsal space in the Dieterle Vocal Arts Centre. The room has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Nippert Stadium. Sometimes we like to watch football games in our rehearsal breaks!

An essential part of the village is Starbucks, of course! Just a quick moment to pick up a drink in the middle of a busy day or even take some time to sit down and catch up with a friend over coffee. If you visit Starbucks, make sure you try the CCM special drink!

Another amazing part about being in the CCM village is definitely the artists you meet. With degrees ranging from lighting design to composition, and instrumental performance, CCM is a microcosm for the professional industry. I have loved getting to know students in other CCM programs and it is always exciting to watch my friends collaborate on exciting passion projects around campus.

If you would like to get a feel for what the CCM village is like, you can watch this virtual tour led by Madison Hagler who graduated from the Musical Theatre program in 2020.